The Best Life Hacks to Help with Spring Chores

For those out of the loop, life hacks are clever tricks and shortcuts to increase things like convenience, productivity, and efficiency, which sounds pretty good when you’re thinking about spring cleaning, doesn’t it? Luckily, there are tons of tips and tricks when it comes to spring cleaning, all of which help you get your chores done more quickly and effectively. We’ve taken some of the most common spring cleaning tasks and found creative, even fun ways to get them done faster. Before you know it, your home will feel as fresh as the sun and breeze outside!

...try putting a rubber band around the paint can. You can eliminate messy drips from the paintbrush and down the side of the can, and make sure you have the perfect amount of paint on the brush for that tricky corner.

If you’re organizing clutter…

...carry a laundry basket with you from room to room. Put clutter from one room into the basket, and when you get to the next room, put away anything in the basket that belongs in that room, while you also collect room 2’s clutter to be put away elsewhere. Anything left in the basket at the end gets a new spot, gets tossed, or gets donated.

If you’re cleaning wood furniture…

...and you find nicks in the wood, rub a walnut over the nick to hide it. The oils from the walnut can make a nick less obvious (as long as it’s not a deep cut, which might then need to be fixed by a pro).

If you’re cleaning the microwave…

...first, nuke 1 cup water + 2 TBSP white vinegar, along with a few drops of your favorite essential oil scent, for 5 minutes. The steam will loosen caked on spills and splatter and you’ll be able to wipe the mess clean.

If you’re refinishing kitchen cabinets...

...and you’ve decided to DIY instead of hiring a contractor, put the cabinet hardware in individal ziplock bags and use a sharpie to label exactly which cabinet it goes to. When it comes time to reassemble, you won’t be sorting through all of the hardware to find the one handle you need.

If you’re cleaning the shower…

...let ammonia do the work for you, and overnight, too! Attach a plastic bag with ammonia to the showerhead so it’s fully submerged and let it sit overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and rinse the showerhead - you’re all set to get ready for your day.

If you’re cleaning gutters…

...think about using a gutter cleaning tool like Gutter Sense. While it’s still not quite as easy as finding a professional, a gutter cleaning tool lets your feet remain firmly planted on the ground. Without the up and down, you’re sure to finish much more quickly!

If you’re cleaning the cars…

If you’re cleaning the garage…

...use your leaf blower instead of sweeping. You don’t have to worry about reaching into the corners and it takes care of dirt and dust in no time flat. Just make sure you grab any real trash you find to throw in the garbage.

And yep, there’s even a life hack for…

If you’re enlisting help…

...give younger kids two options with the same outcome. Instead of asking (or telling) your 5 year old to clean their room, ask if they’d rather help with Task 1 or Task 2. They feel like they have some control over what’s happening, and the tasks still get done, this time without an argument.